Best Water Filter

Which Water Filter Is the Best?

Ecologist Answers the Question

There is no single best water filter that you can go buy and know with certainty that it will protect your family.

I am often asked which water filter is the best.

This is a straightforward question but the answer is complex. In order to know which water filter will provide you with healthy water you must first learn what is in your water so that you know what contaminants you must remove. The best water filter for you depends entirely on the contaminants present in your water. To know which water filter is the best for your family you have to review your local water report. Only then can you determine which water filter is the best for you.

My view is that healthy water comes from rivers, springs, and lakes which has been treated in the home to remove the chemicals added by cities. Ideally this water would contain low levels of naturally occurring minerals. But this is not always true. There may be contaminants from cities upstream or industrial or agricultural chemicals or there may be naturally occurring metals, like arsenic, uranium or fluoride which force you to make a different choice when it comes to choosing the best water filter for your particular situation. I discuss how to choose the best water filter in this video:

Unfortunately we have contaminated our rivers and streams with a wide variety of pollutants, including pesticides and, in some cases, a wide variety of unregulated contaminants. There has been a great deal of press in recent years on unregulated contaminants, including hormones in drinking water. You should not assume that these are present without confirming the fact. If there are cities on the river or lake upstream of where you live then the sewage plants from these cities will be discharging these contaminants in your water supply. You can figure this out by looking at a map. If no cities are present then this is not an issue with your water.

If you don’t know what your water source is you can find out by looking at your city (or other water provider’s) water report. It will also identify the source of your water. For help in finding your local water report, visit Finding Your Local Water Report. I'll tell you how to find your local water report and I interpret one for you:

Next you want to review the contaminants listed in the report. This can be confusing for many people but it is an excellent exercise. It may help if you listen to me interpret a client’s local water report at the page listed above. If the only contaminants present are chlorine byproducts then a simple carbon filter will do. This is rarely the case. If you have chlorine or chloramine, the chlorine byproducts, and fluoride then a more complex water filter like my Kitchen Defender will be the best water filter for your family.

If there are cities upstream of where you live then you need a reverse osmosis system to remove the unregulated contaminants. Reverse osmosis is often criticized for also removing the healthy minerals in water but if your choice is between minerals plus hormones and other drugs or water purified by reverse osmosis, the decision is an easy one: purify your water. Very low levels of the unregulated contaminants can cause very serious health issues. This is not an issue to take lightly. Please see my resource library for proof.

If your water source is groundwater be sure to look into the issue of total dissolved solids (tds). These are the minerals in your water. Minerals in water are thought by some to be beneficial but they can also be too high. As water sits in an underground aquifer it dissolves the minerals it comes in contact with. Water that has a high mineral content can be a problem in terms of penetrating your body’s cells, so it may not be hydrating. I prefer to drink water with a tds between 30 and 250, although EPA allows public water to have a tds up to 500 parts per million (ppm). Other factors that would lead me to use reverse osmosis include radioactive metals or the presence of nitrates.

4) identify the treatments you need to remove the contaminants present

5) Buy the system that provides what you need - the best water filter will remove the contaminants in your water, making the best of what comes out of your tap and providing you with healthy water.

As you can see, learning which water filter is the best for you is more complex than it may first appear. Following these simple steps can help you in making the correct purchase for your family. Be sure to visit the resource library to learn more about the health dangers associated with contaminated water.

Most Effective Systems

How do I provide the most effective water purification systems?

You and I review the contaminants in your water and discuss your goals. Then I sell you the home water purification system or kitchen water purifier that meets your needs. No other water purification company does that.

What does this mean for you?

It means you buy the correct water purifier, water filter or home water purification system!

Great Tasting Healthy Water

If you're ready to have great tasting, healthy water here's what to do:

Obtain a copy of your city's annual water quality report (also known as a Consumer Confidence Report)

Available Systems

Product Reviews

"What an amazing difference! We used to have a chlorine smell every time we opened the tap, now we have amazingly clean, odor free water. We purchased the Urban Defender whole house water filter with the additional fluoride filter, as well as the custom RO kitchen system. The end result was that our water not only tastes fantastic but also feels great too!

Jim is awesome at what he does and he gives you personal attention through the entire process. He looked at our water reports. He helped design the perfect system. He helped us when the shipping went awry. He talked to the plumber when the installation took place. He overnighted us a part that was missing. Jim is a really great guy, and he really stands behind his product!

For anyone looking for a water filtration system, I can’t recommend enough Jim or his Sweetwater systems. You will definitely be thrilled with the end result."